Don Davis Collection sells for $21.2 million

April 28, 2013

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Successful car auctions are hardly surprising these days; it seems like there's a mad rush to throw money at every halfway desirable bit of steel, aluminum or fiberglass and not even a still-precarious global economy can cool buyers down.

Even though RM's Don Davis Collection auction, which took place in Fort Worth last Saturday, didn't break any overall records, it's yet another reminder of how hot things are. Sixty-four cars were offered without reserve; and sales amounted to $21,200,000 when the hammer fell on the last lot.

Of course, big-ticket cars accounted for a sizeable chunk of that: The top sale was a $1,936,000 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, and the 1967 Toyota 2000GT also did well -- very well -- with a sale price of $1,155,000. The $1,237,500 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing wasn't exactly a surprise, either.

Classics that are really coming into their own as collectibles included: A 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL roadster that sold for $99,000. A 1970 Pagoda could be had for a bit less, even if $77,000 is hardly pocket change.

The way prices are zooming upward for anything with a hint of character still catches us off guard. A 1975 Porsche 911S Targa went for -- brace yourself -- $55,000. And you would have had to have parted with a ludicrous $88,000 to win Davis' pristine 1966 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser.

Searching for a deal?

Well, there were a few lots that could be considered relative bargains in this market. A retractable-hardtop 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner sold for $52,250 and a W12-equipped 2007 Bentley Continental GT could be had for $77,500.

We suppose you could have picked up a 5,527-mile 1991 Ferrari Mondial T cabriolet if you were willing to part with $85,250. You'd have to be insane to do that, though, because it's about double what Hagerty pegs the value of a top-shelf Mondial T.

Head to RM's website to check out all the results and to experience the crushing sorrow that comes with the knowledge that all the cars you think are cool are way, way out of your budget -- and it's only going to get worse from here.

Graham Kozak
- Graham Kozak drove a 1951 Packard 200 sedan in high school because he wanted something that would be easy to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they're doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too. Read more »See more by this author»